Country Programme Development Manager - MODAC - Nigeria at Palladium Group

Project Overview and Role 
Over a four-and-a-half-year period, the Mobilising Data for Anti-Corruption (MODAC) programme aims to improve the quality and use of corruption data in Nigeria. MDAC will fund partnerships between professional users of anti-corruption data in law enforcement, civil society, the media and private sector.
The Programme Development Manager in Nigeria acts as the central point of leadership for the programme in the Nigeria country office. The Programme Development Manager is expected to exercise a high degree of hands-on autonomy, representing the programme with a range of partners and stakeholders.

The Programme Development Manager will also work in an international team with colleagues in Nigeria and other MODAC countries. The Programme Development Manager will regularly report to the Team Leader and maintain strong working relationships with other DFID anti-corruption programmes, other MODAC country offices in Ghana, Kenya and other Palladium projects in Nigeria, as well as key stakeholders in country including government, law enforcement, civil society, media and the private sector.

The role liaises with other Nigeria-based MODAC Directors (such as the MEL Director and Finance and Grants Director) for the purposes of developing workplans, budgeting, capacity building of partners and actively contributing to all aspects of the in-country grants programme. Other Country Programme Development Managers, other project staff and company employees as required by the project, professional service providers, host country government representatives, and other project stakeholders will also be consulted. Within these relationships, the Country Programme Development Manager should have a “delivery first” mind-set
 
Responsibilities   
The primary responsibilities of the Country Programme Development Manager are as follows.

Relationship Management

• Develop strong working relationships with the national government, the media, academics, as well as DFID and other development partners working in the anti-corruption, accountability and digital/civic tech spaces.
• Manage relationships with the project partners, stakeholders and business partners in the country.
• Develop strong working relationships with the leadership of other donor-funded programmes in the country, in particular DFID-funded programmes and other programmes on data and anti-corruption, and leverage complementarities and synergies between MoDAC and them where possible, as well as encourage learning processes among them.
• Develop strong working relationships and create a platform for regular dialogue on programme progress and challenges with relevant Palladium staff.

Programme Leadership and Management

• Provide day-to-day management, organise weekly meetings and quarterly portfolio review meetings with all Nigeria-based MODAC staff, as well as develop longer-term strategic direction to all aspects of the programme in Nigeria, ensuring that all activities, workshops and technical assistance are delivered to a high quality within expected timeframes, meeting the expected targets and expected results are achieved;
• Working with the Partnership Coordinator, develop capacity building framework for partners; assess, identify and procure or deliver targeted technical assistance to build capabilities of grant recipients/partners in targeted ways to strengthen partners’ ability to have meaningful impact;
• Analyse and evaluate grant submissions for technical soundness and compliance with DFID terms and conditions; recommend award actions for grants; ensure grants-making is strategic, contextually appropriate and consistent with program goals and objectives; make grant award recommendations to the Team Leader for funding subject to technical and financial performance;
• Working with the MEL Director, assist in the development and implementation of a MEL system that measures and tracks programme outcomes and impacts against goals; sets and adjusts programme targets; identifies and agrees on residual actions/ mitigation activities and refines future grant requirements;
• Assist Team Leader with the preparation of the annual and monthly reports; draft and contribute to all strategic documents and reports; contribute to the development of programme progress reports as required by the client
• Lead in the development of technical and operational work plans for Nigeria as well as budgets, staffing plans, performance improvement plans and other plans as required, ensuring consultation with the Team Leader, Project Director, Finance and Grants Manager, Operations Team, and other project staff;
• Assume overall responsibility for the effective and on time implementation of work plans in the Nigeria office, within budget, in a manner that meets client and stakeholder expectations and is contractually compliant; and
• Monitor and regularly report to Team Leader on implementation progress; maintain up to date risk registers; use a problem-solving approach to resolve issues, manage and mitigate risks;  escalate material issues and risks as appropriate.

Requirements   
The Programme Development Manager is recruited to the project under the supervision of the Team Leader.

The Programme Development Manager position requires qualifications and experience relevant to the technical work undertaken under the project. This includes technical expertise in the following areas:

Required:

• management of DFID-funded programmes/projects of similar size and scope
• partnership development and capacity building of partners
• grants management
• planning to budget and deadline
• direct engagement with government agencies
• exceptional skills in time management, analytical, organisational, facilitation as well as written and oral communications.
• exceptional interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to work and communicate effectively with a team, many of whom may be based in other countries, and with diverse stakeholders.
• ability to thrive and set the pace in an entrepreneurial, dynamic and multi-national environment.

Desired:

• experience supporting civic empowerment working with investigative journalists
• knowledge of and networks within civic tech
• engagement with institutions and organisations working on working on data
• engagement with institutions and organisations working on anti-corruption.

The ideal candidate will be energetic, organized, detail-oriented, flexible, positive, passionate, a problem solver, possess excellent communication and relationship-building skills, and be able to adjust to the changing demands of a fast-paced, results-oriented job.